Basketball Coaches Attend International Tournament Workshop

Two of Fiji’s grassroots basketball coaches jetted off to Australia yesterday to participate in a three-day ‘Tournament Coaches Workshop’ facilitated and funded by Basketball Fiji’s governing body FIBA.

This exciting opportunity will see Fiji’s William Peter and Seini Samson learn from the best in the business as Peter Lonergan, Head of High Performance Coach Development for Basketball Australia, leads them through the practices and principles when coaching at an international level basketball tournament.

Both coaches are enthusiastically preparing for Fiji’s representation in the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in Papua New Guinea in December this year.

William Peter, National U15 Boys Coach, is eager to soak up Mr Lonergan’s words of wisdom and apply them to the development of his team and how he prepares for the upcoming tournament in PNG.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn from someone of such high calibre and respect in the basketball community. Mr. Lonergan’s experience and teachings will be invaluable as I develop my team from the ground up.”

“I’ll be looking to learn most about team selection, coaching theories and real-life examples, managing expectations and bringing my team on the journey to win gold.” He said.

Seini Samson, National U15 Girls Coach, mirrored Mr Peter’s enthusiasm for the workshop’s teachings.

“I’ve played and coached basketball for many years. I have a great passion, not only for the sport, but also for the development of younger players, particularly young women.”

“I’m looking forward to learning about the different ways to engage the young women and draw out their best performances in every game.”

“I am also grateful to have the opportunity to sit in a room with basketball coaches from across the Oceania region and learn from them. I’m looking forward to bouncing ideas, pushing boundaries and challenging myself in this environment.” She said.

Laisiasa Puamau, Basketball Fiji’s Chief Operating Officer, said this is a great opportunity for Mr Peter and Mrs Samson, but also a great opportunity for the growth and development of Basketball Fiji’s U15 programme.

“We are excited by the prospect of talent searching in the U15 age range. It’s an age group that we haven’t tapped into for a long time and we’re keen to see the skills and enthusiasm of those younger basketballers coming up through the ranks.”

“These teenagers will be the future of National basketball in Fiji and may represent Fiji as adults, playing all over the world.”

Puamau explained that Basketball Fiji’s U15 development programme is highly beneficial to the longevity and growth of basketball across Fiji.

“It’s also our 4 - 5 year plan to ensure our qualification for the next World Cup,” he said.

“This year, our men’s team will compete in the World Qualification rounds in Asia and last year we saw our women’s team compete in the World Cup Qualifiers in India, this gave them a real taste for competing at an International level outside of the Oceania region.”

“We are hungry to have a men’s and women’s team competing and raising the bar in the next qualification pathway for the World Cup” he said.

“The U15 development programme is the best way to secure our dream.”

“We would like to extend our humble gratitude to FIBA for bringing together coaches from across the Oceania region and exposing them to this high level of basketball diplomacy,” he said.